Earth scraping and moving machine



Aug. 13, 1963' J. H. HOPE EARTH SGRAPING AND MOVING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1962 INVENTOR. .mmss H; HOPE BY Pvkei g? H Aug. 13, 1963 J. H. HOPE 3,100,355

EARTH SCRAPING AND MOVING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JAMES H. HOPE BY v )migwrt Aug'. 13, 1963 J. H. HOPE EARTH SCRAPING AND MOVING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 26, 1962 E M W 8 INVENTOR.

JAMES H. HOPE f. (It

Aug.:13, 1963 4.1-1. HOPE EARTH SCRAPING AND MOVING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 26, 1962 INVENTOR JAMES H. HOPE United States Patent 3,100,355 EARTH SCRAIING AND MOVING MACHINE James H. Hope, Galrland, Calif., assignor of forty percent to Theodore S. Kinney, Seattle, Wash. Filed Mar. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 1823M 24 Claims. (Cl. 37--i26) This invention relates to a new and novel concept in an earth moving and scraping machine and more particularly to an earth handling machine which excavates, carries, deposits and spreads material in large quantities.

This type of earth moving machine is designed to operate under a wide variety of working conditions, ranging from sand through loose dirt, clays like hardpan, boulders and to broken rock. The entire range of materials types is encountered. Loose fluid material, for instance, characterized most accurately by sand, is difficult to load into the machine to its full capacity.

The problem with which this invention is concerned is in the loading of the machine. Under very favorable conditions the known types of heavy duty, general pur pose production machines can be loaded to their full capacity only by the application of tremendous and unreasonable tractive force or power. Under less favorable conditions the known machines cannot be loaded to full capacity regardless of the amount of tractive force applied. The reason, obviously, is that there is no control of the material being loaded.

In order to fully load the known types of machines the material cut by the blade and entering the scraper bowl must be forced back and up to the furthermost point of the bowl. When the force required to move the material to the most remote point in the bowl becomes greater than the force applied by the material at the point of entrance to the bowl, the material then follows the path of least resistance and piles up in front of the bowl cutting blade and finally rolls away to the side of the scraper. When this condition is reached, regardless of the tractive force applied, little or no material will enter the scraper bowl. In an effort to overcome this condition, the scraper is then pumped. In other words the scraper blade is momentarily raised and then dropped into the material in an effort to impart more force to the material at the cutting blade. This pumping procedure is .a continuous process and has a very destructive effect on the entire machine.

It has long been realized that a machine which could be readily loaded to its full design capacity with reasonable tractive force in the wide variety of material conditions encountered would solve one of the major problems confronting the heavy construction industry. Thus all scraper capacity could be utilized to permit the movement of material in larger quantities, in less time and at lower cost.

This invention, briefly, uses two blades located some distance apart at the bottom of the bow. Side walls are provided at the ends of the blades to extend between said blades. in addition, a hinged bottom partition pivots near the front blade to open and close the area between the two blades, in eifect acting as a control means for incoming material. This partition also acts as an ejector after the material has been taken up in the bowl and carried to the discharge location. When digging with the rear blade only, and with the front blade either touching or close to the ground, the material to be cut and loaded by the rear blade is actually locked in the cutting and loading area by a combination or interaction of the front blade, the two side walls between the ends of the two blades, the hinged partition and the rear blade. The forward motion of the machine will then force the material into the scraper bowl through the controllable opening defined by the partition and the rear blade base. The

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weight of the partition itself will be sufiicient to maintain it in position as rear blade loading is begun. As the loading proceeds the additional weight of the loaded material ensures that the partition can be closed when the bowl is filled and the blades lifited off the ground.

It will be obvious that when the scraper is being loaded by the rear blade, as described in the foregoing paragraph, the material being loaded is not permitted to bulldoze or pile up ahead of the scraper or waste itself to the sides. The material is at all times under control and must of necessity follow the path of least resistance and enter the bowl. In short tractive power is not Wasted but is efiiciently directed to getting the material where it belongs.

In comparison with the usual single blade machine and assuming the same length scraper bowl the use of two blades allows the front blade to be located nearer the front of said bowl .and the rear blade to be positioned nearer the rear of the bowl. Such an arrangement reduces the distance material must move in order to fully load. It follows that loading friction and forces are reduced and that bulldozing will be practically eliminated. Again, tractive power will be used more efficiently and more rapidly.

Another feature of this invention is the ability to tilt the bowl from either from or rear. Such double pivot feature allows for greater flexibility in the use of the blades. In fact, either blade may be used alone or a combination of blades may be used for the actual scraping operation. In addition to the features heretofore recited as residing in this machine, a control assembly had to be provided for the trout ejector.

Accordingly, it is a prime object of this invention to provide a scraper which utilizes a plurality of blades together with a front ejector for controlling the loading of material into the bowl.

Another object of this invention is to provide a scraper which can be tilted from both the front and rear of the bowl to give greater flexibility to the use of the cutting blades.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a scraper which employs a new and novel control mechanism for the front ejector.

Yet another object of this invention is to supply a scraper which is simple to understand and which does not require the use of complicated parts to accomplish its intended purposes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a scraper which permits the bowl of the scraper to be filled to not only its struck capacity but to its heaped capacity.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a scraper which allows all of the tractive force applied to the scraper to be used to load material into the bowl rather than to waste horsepower uselessly pushing large quantities with the front of the scraper machine.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a scraper which gives greater efliciency for cost by eliminating the problem of unused scraper capacity.

An even further object of this invention is to furnish a scraper which combines a loading control function with an ejecting purpose in one particular component.

Another object of this invention is to provide a scraper which because of the foregoing advantages will allow the contractor to perform a bigger job in a shorter space of time than is currently possible with presently known machines.

Yet another object of this invention is a scraper in which the bulk of the loading will be accomplished by the rear blade and in which the :front blade will load the forwardmost portion of the bowl which cannot be efficiently loaded by the rear blade.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter describedand claimed, reference being bad to the accom: panying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is aside elevational view of this invention showing as clearly as possible the relationship of all the components of the scraper;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the entire scraper for the purpose of illustrating for further clarification the rear endassembly and the front ejector controls; 7

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the device as shown in FIGURES l and 2; FIGURE 4 is a schematic showing of the cable and sheave controls for the front ejector mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic side elevational view of this deviceshowing maximum drop for the rear blade;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic side elevational View of this ing and pulling assembly generally designated by number 10, a bowl structure generally referred to be number 12, and a rear frame supporting and pushing assembly gen erally shown by number 14.

FRONT FRAME ASSEMBLY The front frame assembly 10 is conventional in many respects but is described in detail herein in order to facilit-ate understanding of this invention.

which does not in the desired embodiment have front wheels, is hitched. It should ,be understood, of course, that wheels optionally may be built on to the front of the Preferably, the tractor device is a two wheel affairto which the scraper,

scraper also .to be towed by either a two or four wheel tractor.

A pullyoke 16 is provided in the form of a large generally inverted U of heavy box beam construction. Pull yoke 16 is hitched on the forward end thereof to a universal type connection 20, the details of which are unimportant to an understanding of this invention, supported by structure-attached to wheels 15. Such universal connection is shown as a ball and socket for illustrative pu-r poses only. The foremost half of the yoke 16 is comprised of single portion 21 which divides near the uppermost part of said yoke into two diverging pull arms 18,

said pull arms also being of box beam type construction.

Pull arms 18 are in turn rigidly attached to torque tube 22 which is generally cylindrical in shape. Torque tube 22 is joined to arms 18 at the endsof said arms and extends over the width of the scraper. Each end of torque tube 22 has rigidly connected thereto a rearwardly extending yoke arm 24 which is spaced from the side wall.

8 area of the bowl and that they taper slightly from front to' rear end and that they are also of box type beam construction.

- BOWL ASSEMBLY Box 12 viewed from the top is rectangular in shape.

It is generally rectangular from the sides, though irregular owing to the need to adapt many of the component parts of the scraper to their proper function.

and downwardly to join with the irregular bottom edge A cross beam 44} located at the most forward point of the. bowl 12 and at the horizontal edge of notch 38 connects the two side walls 28. Inlike mannera cross beam 42 joins the top rear corners of said walls, and cross beam 44 joins the bottom rear corner of said side walls. In addition to box beams 40, 42, and 44 the bowl structure is further strengthened by triangular cross beams spaced from each other at the bottom of the bowl. A triangular beam 46 is aligned with bottom edge 34 at a point somewhat below rear bottom beam 44 and perhaps one third the side wall length forward from the rear edge 32 of said side wall. One surface of said triangular cross beam 4-6 is generally parallel with the ground. The front surface of said beam 46 is designed to carry rear cutting blade Si). Similarly, a forward triangular cross beam'd ts is also securely placed between the side walls about one third the distance back from the most forward point of bowl 12. Said forward beam 48, like beam 46, has one surface generally parallel with the ground while a front-facing surface is adapted to support forward cutting blade 52. The forward beam and blade are positioned slightly higher than the rear blade, so that as may be seen in FIGURE 1 the rear blade may dig by itself.

A back wall for the bowl is supplied by the provision of a generally L shaped plate or rear ejector 54. Rear ejector 54 is shaped from heavy plate metal and is hinged at its lower end as at 56 to the rear triangular cross beam 46. Thus, said rear ejector extends generally rearwardly and then bends to'ex-tend generally upwardly. The

.rear or free end of rear ejector 54 terminates slightly below the upper edge 30 of side Walls 28. It will be seen that the back surface of rear ejector 54 is located forward- 1y of the rear edge 32 of side walls 28. A backstop or deflector 58 is rigidly positioned between side walls 28 and is located so that it is flush with the front surface of ejector 54. Said deflector 58 lies mostly above the top edge 32 and slopes forwardly. The rear ejector 54 is shown in FIGURE 1 to be in its full back or non-ejecting position. The. bevelled free end 6b in such position will rest near the lower portion of said deflector 58. Said deflector is angled toward the front of the bowl to give opcrating and structural clearance for the front ejector controls which will be described hereinafter. Obviously the deflector 58 serves to permit material to be heaped in the bowl without loss of such material over the top end of ejector 54. A fluid-operated cylinder 62 is pivotally connected to the rear fraine assembly 14 and has a piston 66 which is pivotally connected to a lug or bracket 64 on the back of ejector 54. Thus, the ejector may be swung forward around hinge 56 by actuation of such cylinder 62 and piston 66. Deflector 58, of course, aids in directing material being loadedtoward the front portion of the bowl.

A front wall in bowl 12 is provided by an arcuately shaped blade or apron generally shown by number 68. The apron blade 69 has panels or webs 76 rigidly connected to each end thereof. The apron blade 69 is designed to swing between side walls 28 and extends from above the horizontal edge of notch 38 downwardly in an arc to meet the forward cutting blade 52. Panels or webs 76 are pieces of plate arcuately cut to the shape of blade 69 and become an integral part of the apron structure which swings between the side walls to form a movable front wall for bowl 12. Webs 7 6 rigidize the apron structure and allow the apron blade 6910 be secured to the connecting beam '70 which provides a rigid connection between the web 76 and the apron arm 72. Apron arm 72 is pivoted on the outside of side wall 28 but inside yoke arm 24 (see FIGURE 2). Arms 72 are coaxially pivoted on trunnions '74 at a point forwardly and above the pivots 26 for yoke arms 24. The need for notches 38 in side walls 28 is now apparent. In order to bring the bottom edge of apron blade 69 into contact with forward digging blade 52, thus closing the front of the bowl, it is necessary to remove a section of side walls 28 which would otherwise obstruct connection beams 76.

A bottom for the bowl is constructed out of a straight plate or partition herein termed the forward or front ejector 80. Forward ejector 36, which is one of the pri mary distinguishing features of, this invention, is hinged as at 82. along the entire length of one edge to the forward triangular blade supporting beam '48. The other edge when said forward ejector is in its full down or closed position rests on the rear triangular beam 46. A lug 84 on the upper surface of said ejector is adapted to receive and hold a control cable. The controls for said ejector will be discussed more fully hereinafter. The basic bowl structure is now complete except for control mechanisms.

REAR FRAME ASSEMBLY A unique feature of this invention is its ability to have the bowl tilted from either front or rear thus giving greatest flexibility in use of the digging blades 56 [and 52. Basically, the rear frame assembly is a rigid structure pivotally mounted on the side walls 28. The front half of this frame 14 is comprised of an A frame yoke having an upper leg 86 [and lower leg 88 which join at one end to pivotally attach to side wall 28 by virtue of a trunnion 90. T runnion 9i? is slightly spaced to the rear from yoke arm pivot 26 and is located on a line running through said pivot 26 which line is substantially parallel to the top edge 30 of side wall 28. Lower leg 88 is generally parallel to the ground line, while upper leg 86 extends from the pivot point upwardly at an angle. A vertical frame member 92 joins the ends of legs 86 and 88 in such a manner that said member 92 is somewhat parallel to the rear edge 32 of side wall 28. There is an A frame yoke on each side of the bowl. These A frame yokes are joined immediately rear of bowl 112 by upper cross beam 96 which connects the upper ends of vertical members 92 and lower cross beam 94 which connects the lower ends of said vertical members.

Pusher bar and wheel mounting structure extend rearwardly from the A frame elements. FIGURES l to 3 show the manner in which such pusherbar and wheels attach to the rear frame assembly. From each vertical frame member 92 there extends backwardly a triangular axle frame having two axle legs 98 of approximately equal length which converge or join to form a support for outside bearings 1G0. Pusher bar frame members are attached to cross beams 94 and 96 and also extend backwardly to form a triangular shaped frame. The pusher bar frame has two upper frame members 102 and two lower frame members 104. Said pusher bar frame is centered on the two cross beams 94 and 96 to occupy the center one third of said beams. The frame members 102 and 104 are approximately of equal length and converge at the outer end thereof to receive pusher plate or bar 186. It will be noted that the two triangular frames angle slightly towards each other and that said pusher bar 166 spans the short distance between the ends of said triangular frames. Thus, there is left on each side of the pusher bar frame adequate negative space to accommodate the wheels 108.

In terms of relative dimensions the pusher bar frame is longer by more than twice the length of the axle frames since it is necessary that the pusher bar be located two feet or more to the rear of the wheels 168. A horizontal inside bearing mounting 118 extends between the two triangular pusher bar frames and is mounted on those frames by vertical reinforcing beams 112. Said bearing mounting is aligned with the outside bearings 1% and has at each end thereof inside bearings 1-14 which receive axles 1'16.

It will be understood that the entire rear frame assembly must be extremely rugged in construction because of its supporting function and since it may be necessary to apply additional tractive power to the scraper. Such additional tractive power can be supplied by permitting a bulldozer to push on pusher bar 106 with its blade.

CONTROL FEATURES Bowl Front and Apron Controls The bowl is movable in a generally up and down manher from the front thereof by the use of two fluid operated cylinders the lower ends of which cylinders are pivotally supported on torque bar 22. The pistons 1714 of said cylinders 12% are pivotally attached to the approximate midpoint of lifting levers 122. Levers 122 like cylinders 126 are located between the pull arms 18 of yoke 16. The forward ends of said levers '122 are pivotally secured to a horizontal shaft 126 connected to and spanning the distance between said pull arms 18. The rear or lifting ends of said levers 122 are generally located above the forward most portion of the bowl, thus placing said ends over the cross beam to. A lifting rod 123 connects the lifting end of said lever with a bracket or lug fixed to said beam 40. The connections at both ends of said rod 128 must be pivotable since the angle of said rod with respect to both lever 122 and beam 40 will vary according to the position in which the bowl is held. This double cylinder assembly is the means by which the front end of the bowl is raised and lowered.

Located between the two lifting cylinder assemblies for the bowl is a third iiuid actuated cylinder 130 and piston 132 which serve to raise and lower apron 68. Cylinder 130 is pivotally mounted at its lower end to torque tube 22. Piston 132 is pivotally secured to an apron lifting lever 134. Said lever 134 has its forward end also rotatably mounted on shaft 126. However, rotatably mounted on the rear end of lever 134 is a cable pulley or sheave 136. It will be noted that piston 132 connects with lever 1-34 forward of the midpoint of said lever, thus establishing a long arm between said connection and the pulley 136 to increase the lifting ability of said piston 1-32. An apron cable 138 is anchored to a lug 140 on tube 22, is reeved up over pulley 136 and then runs downwardly to connect to a lug 142 at the extreme bottom edge of apron 68. By actuating piston 132, apron 68 may be pivoted from its full closed position shown in FIGURE 1 through any intermediate position to its full open position in which the entire apron plate 69 is above the top edge 30 of the bowl.

The advantages of the apron and bowl front controls are obvious. The apron itself may be raised slightly and the bowl tilted so that the front cutting blade '52 may be employed. In this way material may be piled up in the forward position of the bowl without being lost. When a full load of material is to be discharged the apron can be raised completely out of the way so as not to hamper the operation of forward ejector 80.

The cylinders 126 and 13tl 'are shown to be anchored at the lowest portion of torque tube 22. In order to permit such anchoring it is necessary to cut away a section of the top part of tube 22 as defined by opening 121 between pull arms 18. The remaining portion of tube 22 between such pull arms will necessarily have to be heavily reinforced to sustain the tremendous loads which said tube must withstand.

Forward Ejector Controls Ejector 80 as mentioned above has a lug or bracket 8-4 on the top surface thereof to which an operating cable 144 is secured. Located on the top of the bowl is a pulley frame generally designated by number 146. Said frame is comprised of a generally upstanding frame member 148 and a reinforcing member 150; The two frame mounted inside side wall 28. Shafts 158 are coaxially mounted in the upstanding frame members 145 so that a portion of the pulleys will be below the top edge 35 It will be understood that in order to place inside pulley 154 inside wall 28 it is necessary that the upstanding frame member 148 be spaced from the inner surface of wall 28 by spacer block 149. Alternatively, of course,

A the member 148 could be placed between pulleys 154 and FIGURES 1, 2 and 4 most clearly show the manner in which said forward ejector control mechanism operates. Cable 144 is anchored to lug 84 on ejector 80 and is also anchored to inside pulley 154. A second cable 160 is anchored to outside pulley 156 and extends along the outside length of side wall 28 just below top edge 39 to a pulley 162 on the rear portion of said bowl. Pulley 162 is rotatably mounted on a short stub shaft 164 which in turn is mounted in a triangular top reinforcing plate 166 situated atop side wall 28. The vertical edge of said plate 166 is secured to post -168which is attached to side wall 28 along the rear edge 32. Said post 168, as may be seen, extends from the bottom of the side wall and terminates well above the top edge 30. v V s It should be mentioned that the side walls 28 of this device will be provided with stiffening members which for simplicity of presentation have been omitted. Such stillening members are well known by those skilled in the art. A top edge stiifener 17 is shown to indicate that the control cable 16!} will run inside said stiffener 170. Thus, short upper sections will have to be cut from said beam to allow the low segment of the pulleys to extend into.

said stiffener.

The actuating mechanism for cables 144 and 160 is mounted at the extreme back end of bowl 12 behind the A direction changing pulley 176 is positioned at a rightangle to the rear portion of pulley 162. The axis of said pulley v176 is fixed and is located slightly above that of pulley 162 so that cable *169 in running around the lower part' of pulley 162 is directed upwardly and overthe top of pulley v176. In this way, cable 16% is also turned at a 90 angle. Inboard of pulley 176 and directly in line therewith is a first control pulley 178 which has aligned with the axis thereof the axis of a mate or second control pulley 180. Second control pulley 180 is spaced from said first control pulley 178, and both control pulleys are mounted so as to be reciprocably movable between and along the lengths of cross beams 42 and 172. The coaxial spaced relation of the control pulleys is such that they must move together. An idler pulley 1-82 lies in a horizontal plane and is positioned so that it is at right angles to the lower portions of both control pulleys 17-8 and 180. The axis of idler pulley 182 is fixed and is spaced inboard of the axis of direction change pulley 176. In this arrangement of pulleys, cable 166 runs from the top of direction change pulley 176, across to the top of and around first control pulley 1178; The cable loops around the inboard side of said pulley 178 and thence around the outboard side of idler pulley 1 82. The cable then runs to the underside of second control pulley 180 up and around the inboard side of said second S V 7 control pulleys and finally is anchored or dead ended on a bracket or lug 184, supported on post 1 68 or appurtenant structure.

Centered with respect to all pulleys is a fluid actuated cylinder 18 6 and piston 18%. The back of said cylinder is secured to post 168 while piston 183 is attached to structure (not shown) which ties control pulleys 178 and together. In actual practice the pulleys will be contained within housings which may be rigidly'joined. When the cylinder is actuated, piston 188 pushes the two control pulleys inboard or toward the longitudinal center line of the bowl. In this way the double pulleys 154 and 156 are rotated to wind cable 144 around said pulley i154 and thus swing ejector 30 up about its hinge 82 either to open the area between the blades or to eject material from the'front portion of the bowl.

It should be recognized that the cylinder 186 may be protected by a housing and that other auxiliary structure may be provided. Discussion of the front ejector controls has been held to essential'details to eliminate needless discussion.

Rear Ejector and Frame Controls As mentioned earlier, the rear ejector 54, sometimes referred to as a tailgate, is equipped with a lug or bracket 64 on the back side thereof to which lug is pivotally secured to piston 66 of ejector cylinder 62. It may be found that a telescopic type hydraulic device with multi ple pistons is needed since the distance through which said cylinder and piston must openate from full back, to full forward position is approximately six feet. At any rate, the rear end of cylinder 62 is pivotally connected to an anchoring block 196 which in turn is attached to bearing mounting 110.

Two heavy duty double acting lift cylinders 132 are provided to raise and lower the rear ofbowl 12. Each cylinder 19-2 has its lower end pivotally attached to lower cross beam 94 of rear frame assembly 14 by virtue of a lug or bracket 1%. Said lift cylinders 19 2 are placed in line with the longitudinal center line of the wheels 108. The piston end of said cylinders 192 are pivotally connected to the under side of the upper rear cross beam 42 on bowl 112. Thus, as is shown in FIGURE 1, when cylinders 192 are in the fully retracted position, rear blade 50 is at its maximum drop.

GENERAL DISCUSSION Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations in the device may be made. For instance, all controls could be designed to operate on cables actuated by electric motors or by cables actatued by a power winch having multiple drums. In the preferred embodiment hydraulically operated cylinders are employed. Rear ejector cylinder 62 may be single acting, thus requiring a tension spring 196 to retract said ejector to its full back position. The cylinders on the forward frame 10 and for theforward ejector controls 174 are also considered to be single acting and hydraulically actuated.

The pivots 26 and 9b supporting yolce arms 24 and A frame arms 86 and 88 may be relocated once the loading forces are precisely determined. Such relocated points should not Vary much from those described and shown.

The above description of this invention has not been limited by dimensions for obvious reasons. However, because this invention is aimed at the most persistent problem in larger earth-scrapers, i.e. loading to design capacity, it has 'been found that for a bowl width of 9 feet, 6 inches, the device has a struck capacity of 27.7 cubic yards and a heaped capacity of 36 cubic yards. Increasing the width to 10 feet increases struck capacity to 29.1 cubic yards and heaped capacity to 38 cubic yards. Tire size will be 27.00 x 33 and larger. Thewheel base for both widths would be about 30 feet 8 inches. Obviously the design combination of double blade-s, forward and rear ejectors and front and back lift can be applied to much larger machines.

9 OPERATION FIGURES to 9 show the bowl in various positions. This invention dictates that the bulk of theloading will be done with the rear blade alone. Where only the rear blade is cutting as shown in FIGURE 5, the apron will be closed and the front ejector lifted slightly to allow the material to be channeled into the bowl.

If, as shown in FIGURE 6, only the front blade is used, then the forward ejector is closed and the apron lifted to allow entry of the dirt into the bowl.

FIGURE 7 indicates the maximum lift of the bowl, both front and rear, and the position of the bowl when filled to capacity and while being moved to where the material will be discharged.

FIGURE 8 shows the position of the bowl in the event it is found desirable or necessary to dig with both blades. In this case, of course, both the forward ejector and the apron must be raised to permit entry of material.

FIGURE 9 shows all elements in discharge position. The apron is raised to its maximum position and both ejectors are pivoted forwardly to their most extreme eject positions. Those knowledgeable in the art will recognize that the material must in most cases be spread to certain thickness when it is being discharged. Such spread thickness will be controlled primarily by the rear blade.

The foregoing is considered illustrative only of the principle of this invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An earth scraping and moving machine, comprising:

(a) a bowl structure having forward supporting frame means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having rear supporting frame means including wheels, said forward frame means including first control means for raising and lowering the front of said bowl and said rear frame means including second control means for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl;

(1)) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl;

(c) first ejector means located between and hingedly secured in close proximity to the forwardmost of said pair of scraper blade means;

((1) apron means located in the front of said bowl and adapted to be raised and lowered for opening and closing said bowl; and

(e) second ejector means located at the rear of said bowl and adapted to be hinged in close proximity to the rearmost of said pair of scraper blade means.

2. An earth scraping and moving machine, comprising:

(a) a bowl structure having forward supporting frame means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having rear supporting frame means including wheels, said forward frame means including first control means for raising and lowering the front of said bowl and said rear frame means including second control means for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl;

(b) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl, said pair of scraper blade means being spaced from each other and positioned transversely of the direction of movement of said bowl;

(0) ejector means located between and hingedly secured in close proximity to the forwardmost of said pair of scraper blade means; and

(d) means for discharging earth material collected in said bowl.

3. An earth scraping and moving machine, comprising:

(a) a bowl structure having a forward supporting frame means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having rear supporting frame means including wheels, said forward frame means including first control means for raising and lowering the front of said bowl and said rear frame means including second control means for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl;

(1)) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl, said pair ofscraper blade means being spaced from each other and positioned transversely of the direction of movement of said bowl;

(0) first ejector means located between and hingedly secured in close proximity to the forwardmost of said pair of scraper blade means;

(d) apron means located in the front of said'bowl and adapted to be raised and lowered'for opening and closing said bowl; and

(e) second ejector means located at the rear of said bowl and adapted to be hinged in close proximity to the rearmost of said pair of scraper blade means.

4. An earth scraping and moving machine, comprising:

(a) a bowl structure having for'ward supporting frame means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having rear supporting means including wheels;

(b) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl;

(0) ejector means located between said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector means being hingedly connected in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector being adapted to be raised and lowered about said hinged connection; I

(d) means for discharging earth material collected in said bowl.

5. An earth scraping and moving machine, comprising:

(a) a bowl structure having forward supporting frame means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having rear supporting frame means including wheels, said forward frame means including first control means for raising and lowering the front of said bowl and said rear frame means including second control means for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl;

(1)) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl;

(0) an ejector means located between said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector means being hingedly connected in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector being adapted to be raised and lowered about said hinged connection;

(d) means exclusive of said ejector means for discharging earth material collected in said bowl.

6. An earth scraping and moving machine, comprising:

(a) a bowl structure having forward supporting frame means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having rear supporting frame means including wheels, said forward frame means including first control means for raising and lowering the front of said bowl and said rear frame means including second control means for raising and lowering the rearof said bowl;

(b) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bot tom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl;

(c) first ejector means located between said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector means being hingedly connected in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said ejec- 4 tor being adapted to be raised and lowered about said hinged connection; a l

(d) apron means located in the front of said bowl and adapted to be raised and lowered for opening and closing said bowl; and

v (e) second ejector means located at the rear of said (b)*a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl; I r e (c) first ejector means located between said pair of v scraper blade means, said ejector means being hing edly connected in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector being adapted to be raised and lowered about i said hinged connection; i

(d) apron means located, in the front of said bowl and adapted to be raised and lowered for opening and closing said bowl; and

(e) second ejector means located at the rear of said bowl and adapted to be hinged in close proximity to the rearmost of said pair of scraper' blade means.

'8. An earth scraping and moving machine, comprising:

(a) a bowl structure having forward supporting frame means adapted to 'be hitched to a prime mover and having rear supporting frame means including wheels; 7

(b) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl, said pair of scraper blade means being spaced from each other and positioned transversely V of the direction of movement of said bowl;

(0) an ejector means located between said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector means being hingedly connected in close proximity to the fonwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector being adapted to be raised and lowered about "said hinged connection; a (d) means exclusive of said ejector charging earth material collected in said bowl.

second control-means for-raising and lowering the .rear of said bowl;

-(b,)a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl, said pair of scraper blade means being spaced from each other and positioned transversely of the direction'of movement of said bowl;

(0) ejector means located between said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector means being hingedly connected in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector being adapted tobe raised and lowered'abopt said hinged connection; i

(d) means exclusive of said ejector charging earth material collected insaid bowl.

10. An earth scraping and moving machine, commg:

(a) a bowl structurehaving forward supporting frame means adapted to be hitched to a prim'e mover and having rear supporting frame means including wheels, said forward frame means including first means for dis-j V 9. An earth scraping and moving machine, compris s' means for discontrol means for raising and lowering the front of said bowl and said rear frame means including second control means for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl;

(b) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into saidbowl, said pair of scraper blade means being spaced from each other and positioned transversely of the direction of movement of said bowl;

(0) first ejector means located between said pair of scnaper' blade means, said ejector means being hingedly connected in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector being adapted to be raised and lowered about said hinged connection;

(d) apron means located in the front of said bowl and adapted to be raised and lowered for opening and closing said bowl; and

(e) second ejector means located at the rear of said bowl and adapted to be hinged in close proximity to the rearmost of said pair of scraper blade means.

11. An earth scraping and moving machine, compris- (a) a bowl structure having forward supporting frame means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having rear supporting frame means including wheels, said forward frame means including first control means for raising and lowering the front of said bowl and said rear frame means including second control means for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl;

(b) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl, said pair of scraper blade means being spaced from each other and positioned transversely of the direction of movement of said bowl;

(0) first ejector means located between said pair of scraper blade means, said first ejector means being hingedly connected in close proximity to the forwardmos-t blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said first ejector having thirdcontrol means located on said bowl for raising and lowering said first ejector means; 7

(d) apron means located in the front of said bowl and being adapted to be raised and lowered for opening and closing the front portion of said bowl; and 7 (e) second ejector means located at the rear of said bowl and adapted to be hinged in close proximity to the rearmost of said pair of scraper blade means.

12. An earth scraping and moving machine, comprising: 7

(a) a bowl structure having forward supporting frame means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having rear supporting frame means including wheel's, said forward frame means including first control means for raising and lowering the front of said bowl and said rear frame means including second control means for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl;

(b) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl, said pair of scraper blade means being spaced from each other and positioned transversely of the direction of movement of said bowl;

(0) first ejector means located between said pair of scraper blade means, said first ejector means being hingedly connected in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector being adapted to be raised and lowered about said hinged connection;

' (d) apron means located in the front of said bowl and having third control means attached to said forward frame means for raising and lowering said apron'to thereby open and close the front of said bowl; and 7 (e) second ejector means located at the rear of said bowl and adapted to be hinged in close proximity to the rearmost of said pair of scraper blade means. 13. An earth scraping and moving machine, compris- (a) a bowl structure having forward frame supporting means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and havin" rear supporting frame means including wheels, said forward frame supporting means including first control means for raising and lowering the front of said bowl and said rear frame supporting means including second control means for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl;

(b) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl, said pair of scraper blade means being spaced from each other and positioned transversely of the direction of movement of said bowl;

() first ejector means located between said pair of scraper blade means, said first ejector means being hingedly connected in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said first ejector means being adapted to be raised and lowered about said hinged connection;

(0.) apron means, located in the front of said bowl and adapted to be raised and lowered for opening and closing said bowl; and

(e) second ejector means located at the rear of said bowl and having a hinged connection in close proximity to the rearmost blade of said pair'of scraper blade means, said second ejector means having third control means attached to said rear supporting frame means for swinging said rear ejector means about its hinged connection.

14. An earth moving and scraping machine, comprising:

(a) a bowl structure having forward supporting frame means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having rear supporting frame means including wheels, said forward frame means including first control means for raising and lowering the front of said bowl and said rear frame means including second control means for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl;

(b) a pair of scraper blade means located at the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl, said pair of scraper blade means being spaced from each other and positioned transversely of the direction of movement of said bowl;

(0) first ejector means located between said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector means being hingedly connected in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector being adapted to be raised and lowered about said hinged connection;

(01) apron means located in the front of said bowl and adapted to be raised and lowered for opening and closing said bowl; and

(e) second ejector means located at the rear of said bowl and having a hinged connection in close proximity to the rearmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said second ejector means having third control means attached to said rear supporting frame means for swinging said rear ejector means about its hinged connection.

15. An earth scraping andmoving machine, comprising:

(a) a bowl structure having forward frame supporting means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having rear supporting frame means including wheels, said forward frame means including first control means for raising and lowering the front of said bowl and said rear frame means including second control means for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl;

(b) a pair of scraper blade means located at the id bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl, said pair of scraper blade means being spaced from each other and positioned transversely of the direction of movement of said bowl;

5 (c) first ejector means located between said pair of scraper blade means, said first ejector means being hingedly connected in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said first ejector having third control means located on said bowl for raising and lowering said first ejector means;

(d) apron means located in the front of said bowl and having fourth control means attached to said forward frame means for raising and lowering said apron to thereby-open and close the front of said bowl; and

(2) second ejector meanslocated at the rear of said bowl and having a hinged connection in close proximity to the rearmost blade of said pair of scraper blade means, said second ejector having fifth control means attached to said rear supporting frame means for swinging said second ejector means about its hinged connection.

16. An earth scraping and moving machine, compris- (a) a bowl structure having a forward supporting frame adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having a rear supporting frame including wheels, said bowl including an apron to open and close the front portion of said bowl and discharge means located at the rear of the bowl for discharging earth material from said bowl;

(b) a pair of scraper blades located in the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl, said pair of scraper blades being positioned across the width of said bowl; and

(c) an ejector extending between said pair of scraper blades, said ejector being hingedly secured in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair 40 of scraper blades, said ejector also having control means mounted on said bowl for raising and lowering said ejector.

17. An earth scraping and moving machine, compris- (a) a bowl structure having a forward supporting frame adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having a rear supporting frame including wheels, said bowl including an apnon to open and close the front portion of said bowl and discharge means located at the rear of the bowl for discharging earth material i'mom said bowl; j

(b) a pair of scnaper blades located in the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl, said pair of scraper blades being positioned in spaced apart relationship with respect to one another and being positioned across the width of said bowl; and

(c) an ejector extending between said pair of scraper blades, said ejector being hingedly secured in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of scraper blades, said ejector also having control means mounted on said bowl for raising and 'lowering said ejector, and the cutting edge of said forwardmost blade being offset of the cutting edge of the rearmost blade of said pair of scraper blades.

18. An eanth scraping and moving machine, compris- (a) a bowl structure having :a forward supporting frame adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having a rear supporting frame including wheels, said bowl including an apron to open and close the front portion of said bowl and discharge means located at the rear of the bowl for discharging earth material from said bowl;

(b) a pair of scraper blade means located in the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into positioned across the width of said bowl; and (c) an ejector extending between said pair of scraper blades, said ejector being hingedly secured in close proximity to the forwardmost blade of said pair of 19. An earth scraping and movingmachine, comprisa) a bowl structure having a forward supporting frame adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and having a rear supporting frame including Wheels, said bowl including an apron to open and close the front portion of said bowl and discharge means located at the rear of the bowl for. discharging earth material from said bowl; (b) a pair of scraper blade means located in the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl, said pair of scraper blade means being posi tioned in spaced apart relationship and being positioned across the width of said bowl; and

(c) an ejector extending between said pair of scraper blade means, said ejector being hingedly secured in close proximity to the forward-most blade of said pair of scraper blades, said ejector having control means for raising and. lowering said ejector, said control means including cable means attached to the free end of said ejector with said cable means in turn being 7 attached to pulley and fluid actuated power means for operating said ejector.

, 1 (b) a pair of scraper blade means located in the bottom of said bowl for directing earth material into said bowl, said pair of scraper blade means being positioned in spaced apart relationship and being positioned across the width of said bowl; and V (c) an ejector extending between said pair of scraper blademeans, said ejector being generally flat and 'of sufficient size to generally close the bottom of said bowl between said blade means, said ejector being hingedly securedin close proximity to the folwardmos-t blade of said pair of scraper blades, said ejector having control means for raising and lowering said ejector, said control means including cable means attached to the free end of said ejector with said cable means being sheaved over stationary pulleys located on said bowl generally above said ejector and at the upper rear thereof, said cable means also being secured over movable pulleys, said movable pulleys being power actuated to shorten said cable means and to thereby raise and lower said ejector. 21. An earth scraping and moving machine, comprisingr. e

(a) a bowl structure having spaced apart generally parallel side members rigidly interconnected by beam structure means at the lower rear and upper corners and at spaced apart locations at the bottom edges of said side members, saidbowl structure being supported by a maritime supporting means having wheels and including forwardly extending'arm members pivotally connected to the outer surfaces 'of 20.- An earth scraping and moving machine, compns said side members and also including'first control a means located between the lower portion-of said rear 16 frame and the upper rear portion of said bowl for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl, said bowl also being supported by a front supporting frame means adapted to be hitched to a prime mover and including a yoke having a base extending across the front of said bowl and arms on said base pivotally connected to the outside of said side members, said front frame means including second control means interconnected with said bowl for raising and lowering the front of said bowl; (b) scraper blade means mounted on each of said spaced apart bottom edge beam structures;

(0) a front ejector means pivotally mounted on the forw'ardmost and designed to extend to the rearwardmost of said spaced apart bottom edge beam struc- .tures, said front ejector means having bowl mounted third control means for its raising and lowering:

(d) a rear. ejector means pivotally mounted on the rearwardnrost of said spaced apart bottom edge beam structures and having interconnected rear frame mounted fourth control means; and

(e) a front apron means extending between said forwardmost scraper blade means and the upper front corner of said bowl and having interconnected front frame mounted-fifth control means.

22. An earth scraping and moving machine, compris- (a) a bowl structure having spaced apart generally parallel side members rigidly interconnected by first beam structure means at the lower rear and upper corners and a pair of second beam structure means at spaced apart locations at the bottom edges of said side members, said pair of second beam structure means beingpositioned so as to define a space between them occupying approximately the middle one third of the bottom area. of said bowl, said bowl structure being supported by a rear frame supporting means having wheels behind said bowl and including forwardly extending arm members pivotally connected to the outer surfaces of said side members above the rearrnost of said second beam structure means and also including first control means located between the lower portion of said rear frame means and the upper rear portion of said bowl for raising and lowering the rear of said bowl, said bowl also being supported by a front supporting frame means adapted to be hitched toa prime mover and including a yoke having a base extending across the front of and in spaced relation to said bowl and arms on said base pivotally connected to the outside of said side members above said rearmost beam structure means and forward of said rear frame pivot mount, said front frame means including second control means interconnected with said bowl for raising and lowering the front of said bowl;

(b) scraper blade means mounted on each of said second beam structure means;

(0) a front ejector means pivotally mounted on the forwardmost and designed to extend to the rearrnost of said second beam structure means, said front ejector means having bowl mounted third control means for its raisingand lowering;

(d) a rear ejector means pivotally mounted on the rearmost of said second beam structure means and having interconnected rear frame mounted fourth control means; and j '(e) a front apron means extending between said forwardrnost scraper blade means and the upper front corner of said bowl and having interconnected front frame mounted fifth control means.

23. An earth scraping and moving machine, comprising: 7

(a) a bowl means having spaced apart generally parallel side members rigidly interconnected by a plurality of beam means to provide a rigid structure, said bowl 1 7 means including scraping blade means at the lower portion and across the width thereof and also having ejector means and apron means to provide a bottom in said bowl which may be opened and closed;

18 and second ejector means pivotally attached to the forwardmost of said second beam means and front apron means to provide a bottom in said bowl which may be opened and closed;

(b) rear frame supporting means for said bowl having (b) rear frame supporting means having wheels bewheels located behind said bowl and including forhind said bowl and including forwardly extending wardly extending arm members pivotally connected first arm members pivotally connected to the outer to the outer surfaces of said side members and also surfaces of said side members above the rearmost including first control means located between the of said second beam means and also including first lower portion of said rear frame and the upper rear 10 control means located between the lower portion of portion of said bowl for raising and lowering the said rear frame means and the upper rear portion of rear of said bowl; and said bowl for raising and lowering the rear of said (c) front supporting frame means for said bowl adapted bowl; and

to be hitched to a prime mover and including a yoke (c) front supporting frame means for said bowl adapthaving a base extending across the front of said ed to be hitched to a prime mover and including a bowl and rearwardly extending arms on said base yoke having a base extending across the front of pivotally connected to the outside of said side memn in spaced relation to said bowl and arms on said bers, said front frame means including second conbase pivotally connected to the outside of said side trol means interconnected with said bowl for raising members a V t r arm st of Said Second beam and lowering the front of said bowl. means and forward of said rear frame pivot mount,

24. An earth scraping and moving machine, comprissaid front frame means including second control ing: means interconnected with said bowl [for raising (a) a bowl means having spaced apart generally paraland lowel'ing the from of Said bOWllel side members rigidly interconnected by a plurality of beam means including first beam means at the lower rear and upper corners and second beam References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS means at spaced apart locations of the bottom edges 2,164,461 Le Bleu July 4, 1939 of said side member, said bowl means including 2,250,289 Barrett July 22, 1941 scraping blade means on each of said second beam 2,307,933 Le Bleu Ian. 12, 1943 means and also having first ejector means pivotally 2,315,366 Armington et al. Mar. 30, 1943 attached to the rearmost of said second beam means 2,763,942

Adams Sept. 25, 1956 

2. AN EARTH SCRAPING AND MOVING MACHINE, COMPRISING: (A) A BOWL STRUCTURE HAVING FORWARD SUPPORTING FRAME MEANS ADAPTED TO BE HITCHED TO A PRIME MOVER AND HAVING REAR SUPPORTING FRAME MEANS INCLUDING WHEELS, SAID FORWARD FRAME MEANS INCLUDING FIRST CONTROL MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE FRONT OF SAID BOWL AND SAID REAR FRAME MEANS INCLUDING SECOND CONTROL MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE REAR OF SAID BOWL; (B) A PAIR OF SCRAPER BLADE MEANS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID BOWL FOR DIRECTING EARTH MATERIAL INTO SAID BOWL, SAID PAIR OF SCRAPER BLADE MEANS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND POSITIONED TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID BOWL; (C) EJECTOR MEANS LOCATED BETWEEN AND HINGEDLY SECURED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE FORWARDMOST OF SAID PAIR OF SCRAPER BLADE MEANS; AND (D) MEANS FOR DISCHARGING EARTH MATERIAL COLLECTED IN SAID BOWL. 